Liz Allen: Do you remember Vietnam vet Silas 'Farmboy' Parobek?

LizAllen

July 7, 2013 12:01 AM

LizAllen

July 7, 2013 12:01 AM

Silas William Parobek. Contributed photoERIE TIMES-NEWS

Three months after his tour of duty began, Silas William Parobek, barely 20, was killed in action in Vietnam; 44 years later, his family has learned about his final days of service to our country, thanks to a mysterious letter and a grainy photo.

The letter came to the Albion Borough office. Debbie McCommon, water and zoning administrator, read the letter and realized that Parobek was the uncle of Scott Seaton, the borough electrician, who was only a toddler when his uncle died.

Police Chief Dan Ries tracked down Scott to tell him about the neatly printed letter that came in an envelope with a California postmark but no return address.

"I am hoping that you will be able to help me fulfill one of my New Year's resolutions," the letter starts.

"It concerns finding a home for this photo that has been under my bed for 44 years. The picture was taken in April 1969 and is probably the last picture taken of the young man on the left (Silas). ... He was killed in action in Vietnam on April 20, 1969.

"Silas was in my squad in third platoon for his entire three months in Vietnam. We affectionately nicknamed him 'Farmboy' because he always spoke of physical chores such as chopping firewood and other labors. He was an incredible individual who suffered through some horrific experiences but he never complained.

"At the time of his death, our squad was short of men so he carried the PRC-25 radio (25 extra pounds) and an M-79 grenade launcher plus 40 rounds of ammunition, which added more weight to his already overburdened pack."

The letter goes on: "This young man died a true hero in a far away land and very few Americans will ever realize what a special person this country had lost."

Scott's mother, Judy Flynn, of Buffalo, knows that Silas was special; he was her younger brother, the fifth of six children born to the late Anne and Ed Parobek.

Judy was married and had moved away from the family farm when he enlisted. "He was a good-natured kid, fun-loving, laughing all the time," she says.

The letter continues: "The photo was taken atop a mountain that had just been decimated by artillery and jet plane bomb runs.

"It appears that Silas and Joe Trudeau at his side are attempting to write a quick letter home before moving onto another mission."

Scott's family would like to thank the writer for his hunch that in a small town like Albion, someone would remember Silas -- in this case, Debbie (now retired).